RandyLee

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Here I am "wearing" my size 60 jean shorts that I bought last March because my size 58's were way too small!  I am wearing 38's and even some 36's these days!  How awesome is that!!

I just finished my second 5K run of the year on Monday (Memorial Day) here in Huntsville, AL and actually finished sort of in the middle of the pack. We, back middle - but still ahead of several hundred others.  Pretty cool fo an old boy!

I've also run 10K a couple times in practice, along with swimming over 40 miles year to date, biking 360 and running a total of 68 so far since 1.1.12.  My goal is a combination swim/bike/run of 1,200 miles for the year. And I plan on doing it!

I am so thrilled by the results and the awesome opportunity that I have been given by God, Dr Mailipur, Huntsville Hospital, my loving wife Terri and all the folks in the support and education groups here in North Alabama; that I really want to give back and help others. So, I've started volunteering through Huntsville Hospital a few times a month.  I am helping with the initial seminars for prospective patients of HH and Dr. M (so you might see me there if you come for more info) and with the Support Group meetings with Angi Achenbach - the amazing Nurse in charge of the program through HH. So, hopefully - I will see some of you there too.

Anyway; I am feeling terrific. I am down 161 pounds total since last April. I had my surgery 8.22.11 - so a little over 9 months ago. I am off all meds and insulin for diabetes and my blood pressure meds at 25% of what they were. Hopefully I can do away with them soon too.  It is pretty damn amazing!

If you are considering doing this - Make it happen!

I'm getting close to the 240's.

I weighed in at 252 yesterday after running my 4 mile Thursday work out.

I've set a goal of Running, Biking and Swimming a total of 1,200 miles this year.  To date I am at a total of 231 (177 biking, 28 running and 26 swimming).

My first 5K race in over a dozen years will be on April 21st.  Each Thursday I run 4 miles to prepare for that. I have also set a goal of breaking a 12 minute mile by year's end.  To date my best is 14:03.

I feel terrific and everyone tells me I look different every time I see them.  The scale is moving slower than I wish, but it is moving.

Last week I bought clothes at Wal Mart and DIDN'T have to pay the upcharge for Big sizes. You know. The $2 extra they charge for t shirts that are bigger than XL, etc.  I bought size 42 shorts and brought them home and put them on and found out one pair was mis-marked. They were actually size 40. AND THEY FIT!! Woot Woot!  That is 20 inches smaller than the shorts I bought last March!!

I know I sound like I am bragging. And I guess I am. And I do take credit fro what I have done in the way of exercising just about every day, taking my vitamins, drinking water (although I could do much better on this) and staying away from trouble food wise. But - really I feel like I am bragging about the surgery and the wonderful tool that my Doctor - Doctor Mailapur of Huntsville, AL - gave me and the amazing second chance that God gave me.

If you are on the fence - jump off and do this for yourself!  I feel amazing!!

Sorry - I don't have any new pictures right now - BUT I wanted to report that I am now in the 260's (about 268.5 yesterday after swimming 2100 yards).   Also, I am wearing size 42 jeans now - a full 18 inches smaller than those i was wearing less than a year ago!  How cool is that!?!

To be completely honest, I did learn that my blood pressure is still elevated when I met with my family doctor in January - but not as much as before. Still, as a precaution I am back on a pill to resolve that - but the dosage is much less than prior to surgery and my doc says I will likely get off of it if I continue to exercise, eat right and lose weight.

A cool note: I am scheduled to run in a 5K to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer research on April 21st in Kansas City!  My sweet Sister In Law, Julie died last September after a battle with this dread desease. So, I am pleased to be able to participate and - hopefully - help raise some funds to find a cure.  If you would like to consider supporting this cause, I would be very grateful - JUST CLICK ON THIS LINK.

I am happy to say I am advancing towards some of my goals.  One of them is to swim 100 miles this calendar year. I am right on track year tod date - well actually I am a little ahead of pace!  I've swam just under 14 miles as of 2.6.12.  Just 86 miles more to go! LOL It sounds amazing to say! But, I am swimming 2,000 yard work outs a couple times a week - on top of lifting, spinning, rowing, abdominal work and other stuff!  It is so cool!

...Thanks again to Dr. Mailapur and his wonderful staff, as well as Angie Achenbach and all my awesome fellow support group members from Huntsville Hopital. 

I weighed in at 291 a couple days ago at the gym. I am doing Spin classes, swimming a mile in under 60 minutes (fast for me!) and have even run a solid half mile - and that was after doing a Spin class with a bunch of college kids!  I feel great and am starting to look better too!

I am wearing size 46 jeans. I was in size 60 shorts in April! I wouldn't wear jeans then because it was too hot! Now - I get cold!

I noolonger need to take insulin or medicine to control my bood sugar or blood pressure! It is awesome!

I'd like to write more - but I don't want to sit still that long. Ha Ha. Got to go split logs in the back yard!

Thank you Dr. M! You saved my life!! Seriously!

Me wearing my size 46 jeans (too big already today!) and holding my size 60 shorts from this Spring!

It has been 30 days since my surgery and I am feeling great!  The weight is coming off gradually and I am no longer taking insulin or diabetes meds!!  My glucose and blood pressure numbers are right where they need to be.

My weight yesterday at the gym was 325. That is 76 pounds lighter than I was when I met Dr. Mailapur on April 13th of this year. I've lost 31 pounds since surgery.

One thing I am totally amazed by is my lack of hunger. I still desire tasting food, but it is not due to hunger. Hunger always drove my bad eating habits in the past; so this is a huge advantage.

I am exercising daily. Usually at least one hour. I try to mix up my exercise, as I believe muscle confusion is very beneficial. 

The crazy thing about my path to obesity is that I have always been athletic. I would guesstimate that I have belonged to and been actively participating in a gym for at least 80% of my adult life.  Even at over 320 pounds, I have completed four sprint triathlons and one duathlon. While my weight was in the high two hundreds, I completed a 5K and back when I was younger, but still pushing 250, I ran several 10K races. In the past I have even served as a trainer at a couple of the gyms.

I believe all of this exercise experience will serve me well as I progress toward my weight loss goals.

I began riding a spinning bike on my own this week and have added weight lifting, abdominal crunches and a stationary rowing machine to my regimen.

Another exercise I am enjoying again is sawing and splitting wood in my back yard.  I bought a 12 pound sledge hammer and a six pound splitting Maul.  I swing and saw (with a hand saw) in reps of 25 and 100 respectively and do 100-150 and 1000-1500 per session.  I think this is building muscle from my legs through my core and into my upper body. All the while I am adding to our wood pile for our fire pit.

I am eating a little now. If I make 2 scrambled eggs, it will take me a half hour to eat them. I use some salsa or low cal barbecue sauce to moisten them.  I might eat some cottage cheese, a slice or two of cheddar cheese or some Carb master yogurt (from Kroger).  Mostly though, I drink protein shakes. At least 3 per day.

I see Dr. M again in December and my goal is to be 298 by then.  I hope I blow that goal away!

Just about everything went as Dr. Mailapur planned. My liver was excessively large and that caused the surgery to last a little longer (about 2 hours), the recovery to be a little longer (about 2.5 hours) and my hospital stay to be one extra day (2 nights total).

I got up as soon as the Nurses said I could (about 6 hours after surgery) and walked a lap around the floor. I used the breatho-meter (not the real name) a few times an hour and kept walking (17 times) about every waking hour - as per my Nurse's (Rachel and Michele) directions.

I got home yesterday at about 10 and walked 4 times totalling about 1.5 miles. It felt great to be out in the sunshine!

I haven't taken any pain meds since the night before last - so I guess I am good to drive already. I feel pretty good. I'm still using the breathing tool; trying to get my intake reading up to 2000 or more (it is about 1750 now at best). It still hurts some (in my belly) when I breath - but not anything unbearable.

Big thank you's to all the folks who I met at Huntsville Hospital - expecially my Nurses (Rachel and Michele) and Techs (Steven and Arelle); Dr Mailapur for doing all he could to avoid having to "open me up" and for being cautious and keeping me an extra night; Angie, Bobby and Danny from the support group - for visiting me and bringing me a birthday card and encouraging words and friendly faces; and of course my family and friends who called, texted, emailed and/or looked in on me in person.

I figured I'd post this in case it might help someone else coming up on the schedule to anticipate what to expect. However, if you listened during our support group meetings and especially at the pre-surgery educational seminar (with Angie Achenbach and Linda), you will anticipate each step of your path. Good luck to us all!!

I should have started this a few months ago, but I just found this site; so here goes.

I have followed Dr Mailapur's (Dr. M) diet (mostly) for the last few months and have lost 46 pounds so far. Part of the doctor's prerequisite was that I lose 40 to 50 pounds pre-surgery; so I am pleased to have met that goal. I know I could have lost even more had I followed his directions more diligently.

My surgery is scheduled for 7:30 AM on 8/22/11. That is 5 days from today! It is exciting and a little frightening. I have never had major surgery before. However, Dr. Mailapur and his support staff have been exceptional in preparing me for the event. I have 100% confidence in his ability.

Yesterday I filled the prescriptions that Dr. M gave me for post surgery, during our final pre-op surgery on Monday (2 days ago). Today I plan to get all the other items recommended by Dr. M and his support staff.

I plan to keep strong on the diet as, Dr. M advised. I would like to hit the 50 lb. mark by surgery and - more importantly - reduce the size of my liver as much as possible to do my best to avoid any potential complications.

The next time I plan to write I should have completed the sugery and already be losing more pounds!